I took a pass at using Chat GPT – maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s the newly released AI system that is causing quite the stir, especially on college campuses (where I teach communications as well). I used the prompt: “How has Covid impacted communications?”

Here is the answer the AI system gave me (italic formatting used to distinguish Chat GPT’s resposne):

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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about several changes in the way people communicate, and in some ways, it has led to improvements in communication. Here are some ways communication has improved since COVID:

Increased use of video conferencing: With the need for social distancing and remote work, the use of video conferencing has increased significantly. This has led to more face-to-face communication and improved collaboration between people working remotely.

  • Virtual events: Many events that were previously held in person, such as conferences and concerts, have now shifted to a virtual format. This has made these events more accessible to people who would not have been able to attend in person.
  • Improved communication in healthcare: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of clear and effective communication in healthcare. Hospitals and healthcare providers have adopted new communication strategies to ensure that patients and their families are informed about COVID-19 and the latest treatment options.
  • Emphasis on digital communication: With the need for remote work and social distancing, there has been an increased emphasis on digital communication tools such as email, chat, and messaging apps. This has made it easier for people to stay in touch and collaborate with colleagues and friends remotely.
  • New forms of communication: The pandemic has also led to the emergence of new forms of communication such as virtual reality and augmented reality, which are being used to create immersive and engaging experiences for remote audiences.

Overall, while the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for many, it has also led to innovations and improvements in communication. The increased use of video conferencing, virtual events, improved communication in healthcare, emphasis on digital communication, and new forms of communication are just some of the ways that communication has improved since COVID.

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What you probably notice is that Chat GPT writes beautiful sentences, easy to read. But you maybe didn’t notice the lack of evidential support; there is no data to support its conclusions. There are no references, and some of the text can feel repetitive.  In this case, I’d say it’s useful as a starter document, but will require you to document and support the conclusions before the work passes muster.

What do you think about Chat GPT?